Kengo Tomita hit two home runs and Tokyo beat Taipei, Taiwan, 7-5 on Friday night in the Little League World Series opener for both teams
Shingo Tomita led off the game with a home run to right-centre for Japan, and Kengo Tomita made it 2-0 with his first homer. Kengo Tomita's second home run, a solo shot in fifth, gave Japan a four-run lead.
Kengo Tomita also singled in Japan's four-run second inning.
Yen Cheng Yu hit a two-run home run for Taiwan in the sixth.
Japan will play Mexico in a winners' bracket game Sunday. Taiwan will face Canada on Saturday.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.